Reaffirming
its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming
that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the
most serious threats to international peace and security and that any
acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their
motivations, whenever and by whomever committed, and remaining
determined to contribute further to enhancing the effectiveness of
the overall effort to fight this scourge on a global level,

Reaffirming
the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations and international law, threats to international
peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and stressing in this
regard the important role the United Nations plays in leading and
coordinating this effort,

Recognizing
that development, security, and human rights are mutually reinforcing
and are vital to an effective and comprehensive approach to
countering terrorism, and underlining that a particular goal of
counter-terrorism strategies should be to ensure sustainable peace
and security,

Reaffirming
that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion,
nationality, or civilization,

Emphasizing
that sanctions are an important tool under the Charter of the United
Nations in the maintenance and restoration of international peace and
security, including countering terrorism, and underlining the
importance of prompt and effective implementation of relevant
resolutions, in particular Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999)
and 1989 (2011) as key instruments in the fight against terrorism,

Reaffirming
its resolution 1373 (2001) and in particular its decisions that all
States shall prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and
refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to
entities or persons involved in terrorist acts, including by
suppressing recruitment of members of terrorist groups and
eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists,

Recognizing
the significant need to build capacities of Member States to counter
terrorism and terrorist finance,

Reaffirming
its determination to combat by all means, in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations and international law, threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, including
those committed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also
known as Daesh) everywhere, and urging all Member states to actively
cooperate in this regard,

Expressing
grave concerns over the growing trend of terrorist groups in Libya
that proclaim allegiance to ISIL,

Expressing
grave concern about ISIL, groups that have pledged allegiance to
ISIL, Ansar Al Charia Benghazi and Ansar Al Charia Derna (Hereinafter
collectively referred to as Ansar Al Charia), and all other
individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with
Al-Qaida operating in Libya, and about the negative impact of their
presence, violent extremist ideology and actions on stability in
Libya, neighbouring countries, and the region, including the
devastating humanitarian impact on the civilian populations,

Deploring
the terrorist acts being committed by ISIL, groups that pledged
allegiance to ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and all other individuals,
groups, undertakings and associated with Al-Qaida operating in Libya,
including the recent cowardly and heinous kidnapping and killing of a
number of Egyptian citizens in Serte and the killing of Libyan
civilians in Al-Qoba,

Expressing
grave concern over the acute and growing threat posed by foreign
terrorist fighters in Libya and the region which increase the
intensity, duration and intractability of the conflict in Libya, and
who also pose a serious threat to their States of origin, the States
they transit and the States to which they travel, as well as States
neighbouring to Libya that are affected by grave security burdens,

Recognizing
that addressing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters
requires comprehensively addressing underlying factors, including by
preventing radicalization to terrorism, stemming recruitment,
inhibiting foreign terrorist fighter travel, disrupting financial
support to foreign terrorist fighters, countering violent extremism,
which can be conducive to terrorism, countering incitement to
terrorist acts motivated by extremism or intolerance, promoting
political and religious tolerance, economic development and social
cohesion and inclusiveness, ending and resolving armed conflicts, and
facilitating reintegration and rehabilitation,

Noting
with grave concern the continued threat posed to international peace
and security by ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and all other individuals,
groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida operating
in Libya, including in Southern Libya and reaffirming its resolve to
address all aspects of that threat,

Expressing
concern at the increased use, in a globalized society, by terrorists
and their supporters of new information and communication
technologies, in particular the Internet, for the purposes of
recruitment and incitement to commit terrorist acts,

Commending
the efforts undertaken by the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to facilitate a political
solution to the political and security crisis in Libya,

Reaffirming
its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and national unity of Libya,

1.
Condemns all terrorist acts committed by ISIL, groups that
pledged allegiance to ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and all other
individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with
Al-Qaida operating in Libya, and emphasizes in this regard the need
for a comprehensive approach to fully combat them;

2.
Stresses the necessity of the full implementation of the
Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005),
1989 (2011), 2161 (2014), 2170 (2014), 2174 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2195
(2014) and 2199 (2015), including with respect to ISIL, Ansar Al
Charia, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities
associated with Al-Qaida operating in Libya;

3.
Urges Member States to combat by all means, in accordance with
the Charter of the United Nations and International Law, threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, including
those committed by ISIL, groups that pledged allegiance to ISIL,
Ansar Al Charia, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and
entities associated with Al-Qaida operating in Libya in coordination
with the Government of Libya;

4.
Encourages the submission of listing requests to the Committee
established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011), by
Member States of individuals and entities supporting ISIL, Ansar Al
Charia, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities
associated with Al-Qaida operating in Libya, and further encourages
the Committee to urgently consider additional designations of
individuals and entities supporting ISIL, Ansar Al Charia and other
listed entities in Libya;

5.
Expresses its strong determination to consider listing
pursuant to resolution 2161 (2014) individuals, groups, undertakings
and entities associated with ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and Al-Qaida
operating in Libya, who are financing, arming, planning, or
recruiting for them, or otherwise supporting their acts or
activities, including through information and communications
technologies, such as the internet, social media, or any other means;

6.
Reaffirms that Member States must ensure that any measures
taken to counter terrorism comply with all their obligations under
international law, in particular international human rights law,
international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, and
underscores that respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and
the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing with
effective counter-terrorism measures, and are an essential part of a
successful counter-terrorism effort and notes the importance of
respect for the rule of law so as to effectively prevent and combat
terrorism, and notes that failure to comply with these and other
international obligations, including under the Charter of the United
Nations, is one of the factors contributing to increased
radicalization and fosters a sense of impunity;

7.
Calls upon the Committee established pursuant to paragraph 24
of resolution 1970 (2011) to consider expeditiously requests under
paragraph 8 of resolution 2174 (2014) for the transfer or supply of
arms and related materiel, including related ammunition and spare
parts, to the Libyan Government for the use by its official armed
forces to combat ISIL, groups that pledged allegiance to ISIL, Ansar
Al Charia, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and
entities associated with Al-Qaida operating in Libya, and urges
relevant states to provide relevant information for such a request;

8.
Emphasizes the importance of providing support and assistance
to the Government of Libya, including by providing it with the
necessary security and capacity building assistance;

9.
Calls upon Member States to help build the capacity of other
Member States where necessary and appropriate and upon request, to
address the threat posed by ISIL, groups that have pledged allegiance
to ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and all other individuals, groups,
undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida operating in
Libya, and welcomes and encourages bilateral assistance by Member
States to help build such national, subregional or regional capacity;

10.
Expresses strong support for the efforts of the Libyan
Government to combat ISIL, groups that pledged allegiance to ISIL,
Ansar Al Charia, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and
entities associated with Al-Qaida operating in Libya, and of members
of the international community assisting the Libyan Government in
this regard upon its request;

11.
Recognizes the important roles of the African Union, the
League of Arab States and Libya’s neighbouring countries with
regard to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Libya and
commend their efforts in countering the threats to international
peace and security posed by ISIL, groups that pledged allegiance to
ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and all other individuals, groups,
undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida operating in
Libya;

12.
Expresses its support to the United Nations led political
dialogue between the Government of Libya, and all Libyan parties that
renounce violence, and calls upon them to engage constructively with
the initiative of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
with the purpose of forming a national unity government, and commends
their continued participation in the dialogue;

13.
Directs the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team
of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and
1989 (2011) to report, within 180 days, and provide a preliminary
oral update to the 1267 Committee within 90 days, on the terrorism
threat in Libya posed by ISIL, Ansar Al Charia, and all other
individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with
Al-Qaida operating in Libya, and on their sources of arms, funding,
recruitment, demographics, connections to the terrorist networks in
the region, and recommendations for additional actions to address the
threat, and requests that after a Committee discussion of these
reports, the chair of the Committee to brief the Security Council on
its principal findings;

Thursday, March 26, 2015

pp1
Recalling
its resolution 1970 (2011) and all its subsequent resolutions on
Libya,

pp2
Reaffirming
its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and national unity of Libya,

pp3
Welcoming
the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya
(UNSMIL) and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to
facilitate a Libyan-led political solution to the increasing
challenges facing the country and underlining
the importance of agreement, in accordance with the principles of
national ownership, on immediate next steps towards completing
Libya’s political transition, including the formation of a national
unity government,

pp3ter
Welcoming
the
ongoing UN-facilitated political dialogue, recognising
the contribution of Member States to host and support meetings of
that dialogue, and emphasizing
the necessity for the constructive participation of the elected
House of Representatives and other Libyan parties to take forward the
democratic transition, build state institutions and start the
reconstruction of Libya,

pp4
Gravely concerned
at the growing trend of terrorist groups in Libya to proclaim
allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (also known
as Da’esh) and the continued presence of other Al-Qaida-linked
terrorist groups and individuals operating there, reaffirming
the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations and international law, including applicable
international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and
recalling,
in this regard, the obligations under resolution 2161 (2014),

pp5
Expressing
deep concern at the threat posed by unsecured arms and ammunition in
Libya and their proliferation, which undermines stability in Libya
and the region, including through transfer to terrorist and violent
extremist groups, and underlining the importance of coordinated
international support to Libya and the region to address these
issues,

pp6
Reaffirming
the importance of holding accountable those responsible for
violations or abuses of human rights or violations of international
humanitarian law, including those involved in attacks targeting
civilians,

pp7Recalling
its decision in resolution 1970 (2011) to refer the situation in
Libya to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC),
noting
the
decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber dated 10 December 2014, and
emphasizing
strongly
the importance of the Libyan government’s full cooperation with the
ICC and the Prosecutor,

pp7bis
Recalling
the need for all parties to respect the relevant provisions of
international humanitarian law and the United Nations guiding
principles of humanitarian emergency assistance,

pp8
Taking note
of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support
Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) (S/2015/144),

pp9Taking
note
also of the special report of the Secretary-General on the strategic
assessment of the UN presence in Libya (S/2015/113) including the
recommendations on the configuration of the UN presence made therein,

pp10
Taking note
of the final report of the Panel of Experts (S/2015/128) submitted
pursuant to paragraph 14 (d) of resolution 2144 (2014) and the
findings and recommendations contained therein,

pp11
Determining that
the situation in Libya continues to constitute a threat to
international peace and security,

pp12
Acting
under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1.
Calls
for
an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, underscores
that there can be no military solution to the ongoing political
crisis, and urges
all parties in Libya to engage constructively with the efforts of
UNSMIL and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to
facilitate, in accordance with the principles of national ownership,
the formation of a national unity government and agreement on interim
security arrangements necessary for stabilising Libya;

2.
Callsupon
all Member States to fully support the efforts of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General;

3.
Encourages
Member States, particularly in the region, to urge all parties in
Libya to engage constructively in the UN-facilitated dialogue and
work quickly towards a successful outcome;

4.
Condemns
the use of violence against civilians and civilian institutions and
continuing escalation of conflict, including attacks on airports,
State institutions, and other vital national infrastructure and
natural assets, and calls
for
those responsible to be held accountable;

5.
Calls
upon
the Libyan government to promote and protect human rights, including
those of women, children and people belonging to vulnerable groups,
and to comply with its obligations under international law, and calls
for
those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law
and violations and abuses of human rights to be held accountable;

6.
Condemns
cases of torture and mistreatment, and deaths by torture, in
detention centres in Libya, calls
upon
the Libyan government to take all steps necessary to accelerate the
judicial process, transfer detainees to State authority and prevent
and investigate violations and abuses of human rights, calls
for
all Libyan parties to cooperate with Libyan government efforts in
this regard, calls
for
the immediate release of all individuals arbitrarily arrested or
detained in Libya, including foreign nationals, and underscores
the Libyan government’s primary responsibility for promoting and
protecting the human rights of all persons in Libya, particularly
those of African migrants and other foreign nationals;

7.
Calls
upon
the Libyan government to cooperate fully with and provide any
necessary assistance to the International Criminal Court and the
Prosecutor as required by resolution 1970 (2011);

8.
Encourages
Libya and regional States to promote regional cooperation aimed at
stabilization of the situation in Libya, to prevent former Libyan
regime elements and violent extremist groups or terrorists from using
the territory of Libya or such States to plan, fund or carry out
violent or other illicit or terrorist acts to destabilize Libya or
States in the region, and notes
that such cooperation would benefit regional stability;

United
Nations mandate

9.
Decides
to extend the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya
(UNSMIL) until 15 September 2015 under the leadership of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General, and decides
further
that the mandate of UNSMIL as an integrated special political
mission, in full accordance with the principles of national
ownership, shall focus, as an immediate priority, on support to the
Libyan political process and security arrangements, through mediation
and good offices, and further, within operational and security
constraints, shall undertake:

(a)
human rights monitoring and reporting;

(b)
support for securing uncontrolled arms and related materiel and
countering its proliferation;

(c)
support to key Libyan institutions;

(d)
support, on request, for the provision of essential services, and
delivery of humanitarian assistance and in accordance with
humanitarian principles;

(e)
support for the coordination of international assistance;

10.
Recognises
that
the current security situation in Libya requires a reduction in the
Mission’s size, but requests
the
Secretary-General to maintain the necessary flexibility and mobility
to adjust UNSMIL staffing and operations at short notice in order to
support, as appropriate and in accordance with its mandate,
implementation by the Libyans of agreements and confidence-building
measures or in response to their expressed needs, and further
requests
the
Secretary-General keep the Security Council informed prior to such
changes to UNSMIL in his reports pursuant to paragraph 27 of this
resolution;

Sanctions
measures

11.
Reaffirms
that the travel ban and asset freeze measures specified in paragraphs
15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 of resolution 1970 (2011), as modified by
paragraphs 14, 15 and 16 of resolution 2009 (2011), apply to
individuals and entities designated under that resolution and under
resolution 1973 (2011) and by the Committee established pursuant to
paragraph 24 of resolution 1970 (2011), and reaffirms
that these measures also apply to individuals and entities determined
by the Committee to be engaging in or providing support for other
acts that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or
obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political
transition, and decides
that such acts may include but are not limited to:

(a) planning,
directing, or committing, acts that violate applicable international
human rights law or international humanitarian law, or acts that
constitute human rights abuses, in Libya;

(b) attacks
against any air, land, or sea port in Libya, or against a Libyan
State institution or installation, including oil facilities, or
against any foreign mission in Libya;

(c) providing
support for armed groups or criminal networks through the illicit
exploitation of crude oil or any other natural resources in Libya;

(d) threatening
or coercing Libyan State financial institutions and the Libyan
National Oil Company, or engaging in any action that may lead to or
result in the misappropriation of Libyan state funds;

(e) violating,
or assisting in the evasion of, the provisions of the arms embargo in
Libya established in resolution 1970 (2011);

(f) acting
for or on behalf of or at the direction of a listed individual or
entity;

12.
Reiterates
that individuals and entities determined by the Committee to have
violated the provisions of resolution 1970 (2011), including the arms
embargo, or assisted others in doing so, are subject to designation,
and notes that this includes those who assist in the violation of the
assets freeze and travel ban in resolution 1970 (2011);

13.
Condemns
the
continued violations of the measures contained in resolution 1970
(2011) and directs the Committee, in line with its mandate and
guidelines, to consult as soon as possible with any Member State
about which the Committee deems there is credible information that
provides reasonable grounds to believe the State is facilitating such
violations or any other acts of non-compliance with these measures;

Prevention
of illicit oil exports

14.
Decides
to
extend until 31 March 2016 the authorizations provided by and the
measures imposed by resolution 2146 (2014);

15.
Urges
the Libyan governmentto
provide regular updates to the Committee on ports, oil fields, and
installations that are under its control, and to inform the Committee
about the mechanism used to certify legal exports of crude oil;

Arms
embargo

16.
Stresses
that arms and related materiel, including related ammunition and
spare parts, that are supplied, sold or transferred as security or
disarmament assistance to the Libyan government in accordance with
paragraph 8 of resolution 2174 (2014), should not be resold to,
transferred to, or made available for use by parties other than the
designated end user;

17.
Urges
the Libyan government to improve further the monitoring and control
of arms or related materiel that are supplied, sold or transferred to
Libya in accordance with paragraph 9 (c) of resolution 1970 (2011) or
paragraph 8 of resolution 2174 (2014), including through the use of
end user certificates, and urges
Member States and regional organizations to provide assistance to the
Libyan government to strengthen the infrastructure and mechanisms
currently in place to do so;

18.
Reiterates
its call upon Libya, with the assistance of international partners,
to address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
misuse of small arms and light weapons in the country, and to ensure
the safe and effective management, storage, and security of their
stockpiles of small arms and light weapons and the collection and/or
destruction of surplus, seized, unmarked, or illicitly held weapons
and ammunition;

19.
Calls
upon
all Member States, in order to ensure strict implementation of the
arms embargo established by paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 1970
and modified by subsequent resolutions, to inspect in their
territory, including seaports and airports, in accordance with their
national authorities and legislation and consistent with
international law, in particular the law of the sea and relevant
international civil aviation agreements, vessels and aircraft bound
to or from Libya, if the State concerned has information that
provides reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo contains items
the supply, sale, transfer, or export of which is prohibited by
paragraphs 9 or 10 of resolution 1970 (2011), as modified by
paragraph 13 of 2009 (2011), paragraphs 9 and 10 of 2095 (2013) and
paragraph 8 of 2174 ( 2014) for the purpose of ensuring strict
implementation of those provisions, andcalls
upon
all flag States of such vessels and aircraft to cooperate with such
inspections;

20.
Reaffirmsits
decision
to authorize all Member States to, and that all Member States shall,
upon discovery of items prohibited by paragraph 9 or 10 of resolution
1970, as modified by paragraph 13 of 2009 (2011), paragraphs 9 and 10
of 2095 (2013), and paragraph 8 of 2174( 2014), seize and dispose
(such as through destruction, rendering inoperable, storage or
transferring to a State other than the originating or destination
States for disposal) of such items and further
reaffirms
its decision that all Member States shall cooperate in such efforts;

21.
Requires
any Member State, when it undertakes an inspection pursuant to
paragraph 19 of this resolution, to submit promptly an initial
written report to the Committee containing, in particular,
explanation of the grounds for the inspections, the results of such
inspections, and whether or not cooperation was provided, and, if
prohibited items for transfer are found, further requires such Member
States to submit to the Committee, at a later stage, a subsequent
written report containing relevant details on the inspection,
seizure, and disposal, and relevant details of the transfer,
including a description of the items, their origin and intended
destination, if this information is not in the initial report;

Assets

22.
Welcomes
the efforts of the Libyan authorities to implement measures to
increase transparency of government revenues and expenditures,
including salaries, subsidies, and other transfers from the Central
Bank of Libya, and welcomes
the efforts of the Libyan authorities to eliminate the duplication of
payments and to guard against the illegal diversion of payments,, and
encourages
further steps in this regard that ensure the long-term sustainability
of Libya’s financial resources;

23.
Supports
the efforts of the Libyan authorities to recover funds
misappropriated under the Qadhafi regime and, in this regard,
encourages
the Libyan authorities and Member States that have frozen assets
pursuant to resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011) as modified by
resolution 2009 (2011) to consult with each other regarding claims of
misappropriated funds and related issues of ownership;

Panel
of Experts

24.
Decides
to extend until 30 April 2016 the mandate of the Panel of Experts,
established by paragraph 24 of resolution 1973 (2011) and modified by
resolutions 2040 (2012) 2146 (2014) and 2174 (2014), expresses
its intent
to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding further
extension no later than twelve months from the adoption of this
resolution, and decides
that the Panel shall carry out the following tasks:

(a) assist
the Committee in carrying out its mandate as specified in paragraph
24 of resolution 1970 (2011), and modified in resolutions 2146 (2014)
and 2174 (2014) and in this resolution;

(c) make
recommendations on actions that the Council, the Committee, the
Libyan government or other States may consider to improve
implementation of the relevant measures;

(d) provide
to the Council an interim report on its work no later than 180 days
after the Panel’s appointment, and a final report to the Council,
after discussion with the Committee, no later than 15 March 2016 with
its findings and recommendations;

25.
Urges
all States, relevant United Nations bodies, including UNSMIL, and
other interested parties, to cooperate fully with the Committee and
the Panel, in particular by supplying any information at their
disposal on the implementation of the measures decided in resolutions
1970 (2011) 1973 (2011), 2146 (2014) and 2174 (2014), and modified
in resolutions 2009 (2011) and 2040 (2012), 2095 (2013), 2144 (2014)
and in this resolution, in particular incidents of non-compliance,
and calls
on
UNSMIL and the Libyan government to support Panel investigatory work
inside Libya, including by sharing information, facilitating transit
and granting access to weapons storage facilities, as appropriate;

26.
Calls
upon
all parties and all States to ensure the safety of the Panel’s
members, and that all parties and all States, including Libya and
countries of the region, provide unhindered and immediate access, in
particular to persons, documents and sites the Panel of Experts deems
relevant to the execution of its mandate;

Reporting
and review

27.
Requests
the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the
implementation of this resolution at least every 60 days;

28.
Affirms
its readiness to review the appropriateness of the measures contained
in this resolution, including the strengthening, modification,
suspension or lifting of the measures, and its readiness to review
the mandate of UNSMIL, as may be needed at any time in light of
developments in Libya, particularly outcomes of the UN-facilitated
dialogue;

As
the conflict in Syria enters its fifth year, the members of the
Security Council expressed their deep concern that the people of
Syria continue to suffer from deteriorating conditions, with
devastating consequences. They also expressed deep concern that
over half of Syria’s pre-war population — some 12.2 million
people — and the more than 3.9 million Syrian refugees in
neighbouring countries are in desperate need of humanitarian
assistance.

The
members of the Security Council highlighted that the lack of funding
for the United Nations and its implementing partners has already
forced humanitarian agencies to reduce food rations for Syrians by 30
per cent and that for every $1 million the UN cannot raise for its
Syria programmes, some 227,000 people lose vital health services.
They also stressed that unless urgent funding is received before May
2015, one million Syrian children who are not attending school will
not be able to access alternative education options.

The
members of the Security Council noted that the Syria Response Plan’s
appeal for $2.9 billion is only 9 percent funded, and the Syria
Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan’s appeal for $4.5 billion is
only 6 percent funded.

The
members of the Security Council therefore welcomed the upcoming Third
International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria to be hosted
by Kuwait on 31 March, and encouraged the international community to
respond with generous pledges of new humanitarian and development
funding towards the UN appeals for 2015.

I
brief today against the backdrop of another month plagued by the
brutality that continues to cause immense human suffering across the
region. As this will be my last briefing, I intend to focus on my own
mandate while, of course, recognizing that the Arab-Israeli conflict
is affected by the dramatic events in the region. In any peace
agreement Israeli security concerns will need to be seriously
ad&essed. However, losing sight of reaching peace between Israel,
Palestine and the wider Arab world altogether -I have repeatedly
warned the Council that we may be heading in this direction- would be
tantamount to pouring more oil on the regional flames. Conversely,
real progress in achieving a two-state solution and ending the
longest ongoing occupation in modern history would go a long way
towards improving regional security and strengthening moderate forces
in the region. In this regard, the Arab Peace Initiative still holds
out the prospect of Israel normalizing its relations with the Arab
and wider Muslim world, rather than isolating itself.

Let me
first briefly update you on significant events during this reporting
period before sharing with you some parting thoughts based on my
seven years of experience, which the Council may wish to consider. On
17 March, general elections were held in Israel. We congratulate
Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Likud party on winning the highest
number of seats and note that President Rivlin has invited him to
form the next government, a process that may take several weeks.
However, I am frankly concerned by many of the hardline statements
put forward in the final days of campaigning, in particular remarks
by the Prime Minister raising serious doubts about Israel' s
commitment to the two-state solution. I urge the incoming Israeli
government to seize the opportunity of a fresh mandate to quickly
demonstrate in words and, more importantly by actions, this
commitment.

Earlier
this month the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Central
Council adopted a series of decisions, including "to suspend all
forms of security coordination given Israel's systematic and ongoing
noncompliance with its obligations under signed agreements."
While noting that in three months' time the PLO Executive Committee
will report back on the implementation of this decision, to date
security coordination is continuing. This move may have far-reaching
consequences and, along with the Palestinian accession to the
International Criminal Court effective 1 April, it is yet another
powerful sign of Palestinian determination not to return to the
status quo.

We
cannot run from reality. There is a genuine possibility that ending
Palestinian security coordination with Israel may be the final nail
in the coffin of the Oslo Accords. However, there is still time for
parties to end the cycle of counterproductive action and
counteraction.

With
the third month of Israel's withholding of Palestinian tax revenues,
now amounting to over $400 million dollars, the Palestinian
Authority's financial crisis is deepening. We are deeply concerned
that despite the announcement of an austerity budget for 2015, this
temporary bandaid may not allow the Palestinian Authority to survive.
Israel's action is in violation of the Paris Protocol of the Oslo
Accords. We, again, call on Israel to immediately reverse this
decision.

In
Gaza, an equally destructive financial crisis, related to the lack of
progress on civil service reform, continues to ratchet up tensions.
It has been nearly five months since the UN facilitated a
humanitarian payment to Gaza civil servants. I cannot help but feel
that such a gesture may be needed yet again to sustain minimum
conditions for stability until the parties have addressed the
underlying issue.

In
this regard, I welcome Prime Minister Hamdallah's second visit to
Gaza this week and commend his continued efforts to find solutions
for this and other critical issues, which will facilitate the GNC's
assumption of its rightful responsibility in Gaza, which was
developed with Palestinian and broad international support. I also
welcome last week's declaration of support by President Abbas and
Hamas for the Swiss Roadmap pertaining to the reintegration and
reform of the public sector in Gaza. I would like to thank
Switzerland for their committed efforts on this issue and urge the
Roadmap's swift implementation.

While
the appalling situation in Gaza endures, there are some signs of
progress. While not enough, the temporary Gaza Reconstruction
Mechanism (GRM) is making a difference. As of 23 March, almost 80 per
cent of damaged shelters have been processed through the GRM, with
over 61,000 individuals having procured construction materials to
carry out their home repairs. In addition, the mechanism is ready to
process large-scale reconstruction. Over 40 international and private
sector projects have been approved and five are already underway -
including Qatar's first major housing project to construct 1,000
housing units. I appreciate Israel's willingness to facilitate this
process. I, therefore, encourage all international partners to take
note that the mechanism is working and to fully engage on Gaza
reconstruction, in line with their pledges in Cairo last Octo

Mr.
President,

The
situation in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, remains
tense. At practically every monthly briefing during the past seven
years we have reported on negative developments. These include the
loss of lives and injuries resulting from demonstrations,
inter-communal violence often involving Israeli settlers and Israeli
search-and-arrest operations. We have also reported on security
incidents, including, increasingly, so-called "lone-wolf'
attacks - and the Secretary General and I have firmly condemned acts
of terror. I do not need to give the details to report that this
month resembles the average from previous briefings, including on
home demolitions, another disturbing trend. Numbers sometimes hide
the grim reality of entrenched occupation leading to growing despair.

We did
not fail to report to you either more positive developments, in
particular related to Palestinian state building and the easing of
Israeli restrictive measures. After a longstanding dispute, Rawabi
has finally been connected to water supply, allowing families to
begin moving into this modern Palestinian township near Ramallah. I
also welcome recent Israeli steps to ease some of its restrictions on
the movement of people and goods in the West Bank and Gaza. I only
wish that I could have reported such positive news on a regular
basis, and I urge Israel to expand upon these important initiatives.

Unsurprisingly,
settlement planning and activity also continued this month, despite
unanimous opposition from the international community. According to
the Israeli NGO Peace Now, from January 2008 to January 2014 - or six
of my seven years as Special Coordinator - the population in
settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem steadily
increased by an estimated 16 per cent to a total of 551,500 persons -
over half a million people. Some 16,500 new residential units were
constructed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem during this
period.

Illegal
settlement activity simply cannot be reconciled with the objective of
a negotiated two state solution and may kill the very possibility of
reaching peace on the paradigm of two states for two peoples. I
frankly do not lcnow if it is already too late. The minimmn
conditions of trust cannot be restored without the new Israeli
government taking credible steps to freeze settlement activity.

Mr.
President,

Allow
me, in this final briefing, to share my parting thoughts.

Upon
leaving this position, I cannot but express an overriding feeling
that I have been part of a peace process in which a can is kicked
down an endless road. During the past seven years, three US led peace
initiatives remained inconclusive and did not bring us any closer to
the urgently needed political foundation for a Palestinian state as
part of a two state solution. This is why the remarkable progress
achieved in Palestinian state building, pursued vigorously under the
leadership of President Abbas and former Prime Minister Fayyad, has
started to turn into a "failed success". Moreover, all
three stalled negotiations were followed by wars in Gaza, leaving the
strip devastated seven months after the last war, as I observed
during my last visit.

To
seek to prevent yet another descent into conflict, I have publicly
called for a new strategy prioritizing Gaza. By this, let me be
clear, I do not mean "Gaza only." Neither I nor the United
Nations would ever support a strategy that would seek to divide Gaza
from the West Bank. Focusing support to Gaza must be inextricably
linked to addressing the wider peace process.

"Prioritizing
Gaza" means that we recognize that we cannot possibly hope to
pick up the pieces of a shattered Israel-Palestinian peace strategy,
leaving Gaza as it is. It means that we cannot possibly hope to again
board the peace train in the West Bank and arrive in Gaza as a final
stop. It means that we must fix Gaza - or at least stabilize it - so
that we do not reconstruct it for a third time only to see it
destroyed again and so that it does not halt peace efforts which aim
to reach the long desired two-state vision: Israel living
side-by-side in peace and security with one single, unified State of
Palestine.

"Pfioritizing
Gaza" means for me achieving four main objectives urgently.

First,
we need a more stable ceasefire under the umbrella of the Government
of National Consensus. I have called for a "reconstruction
hudna": a freeze of all military activities above and below
ground over at least a three-to-five-year timeframe. This would allow
time and give donors confidence for the large-scale, accelerated
reconstruction that Gaza desperately needs: major infrastructure
projects, including housing; a gas pipeline to generate inexpensive
energy; and a desalination plant to address the chronic water
shortages. Once these immediate needs would be met, a next step would
be to look into providing an opening to the world via a seaport.

Second,
such a "hudna" can only be sustainable if Palestinians move
towards a real reconciliation - this has not happened yet. Clearly
this will not be an easy task, but what is the alternative?
Empowering the Government of National Consensus to take up its
leadership role in Gaza is the only way forward. Bringing all the
crossings in Gaza under the control of the consensus Government and
civil service reform represent essential next steps.

Third,
all Gaza crossings need to be opened further to support the free
movement of people and goods, including to reconnect the Strip and
the West Bank and to enable exports.

And
fourth, the international community must be prepared to fully support
the Government of National Consensus politically and financially.
This includes acting on the commitments made at the Cairo Conference
to support Gaza reconstruction. A new strategy for Gaza needs the
engagement of all stakeholders. I very much hope that conditions will
soon allow Egypt to continue playing its important role, including by
resuming the stalled ceasefire talks and promoting Palestinian
reconciliation.

I can
honestly state that Gaza has consistently been a top priority for the
UN and for me, personally. During each crisis, the United Nations,
including through the personal involvement of the Secretary-General,
was in the forefront to stop the fighting. Let me here also thank the
UN family on the ground, particularly UNRWA, for their indispensable
role in picking up the pieces in the aftermath and doing the
important development and humanitarian work. The stark truth is that,
despite all the efforts, Gaza is our collective failure and the
people of Gaza continue to suffer the consequences.

Mr.
President,

Auother
lesson learned after seven years and three wars is that the Middle
East Peace Process has mainly played out on three inter-connected and
mutually conflicting tracks: Peace negotiations; Gaza; and the UN.

The
interplay of these three tracks has produced a dangerous outcome, I
dare say the biggest crisis to date to our joint efforts to achieve a
two-state solution. As I have noted in my briefings to you since May
2012, the parties are heading towards an outcome which I can only
describe as a one-state reality.

As the
parties do not appear at this point ready to recommence negotiations,
we should not rush them back to the table. If indeed we believe that
they do continue to seek an outcome of two neighbouring states living
in peace and security, but are unable themselves, at this juncture,
to agree on a meaningful framework to resume negotiations, the
international community should seriously consider presenting such a
framework for negotiations, including parameters, to achieve this.
This may be the only way to preserve the goal of a two-state
solution, in the present circumstances.

Peace
is first and foremost the responsibility of the parties to the
conflict. But that reality cannot absolve international institutions
of their responsibilities. For its part, the Quartet has largely
failed to live up to expectations - although recent efforts to
reinvigorate it, including through an enhanced role for regional
stakeholders, may have a positive impact.

It
remains the primary responsibility of this Council to play its role
in developing a new peace architecture for resolving the conflict at
long last. Security Council resolution 242 embodying the key
principle of"land for peace" is nearly half a centmy old.
During my tenure - in my first year, actually - the Council passed
only two resolutions on Israel and Palestine and neither of these
provided a strategy. Hasn't the time come, Mr. President, for the
Council to lead?

Mr.
President,

In
conclusion, let me express my appreciation for the dedicated work of
the many UNSCO staff members without whose efforts I could not have
done my job. And, further, I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to
the Security Council and to the Secretary-General for all the support
I have received over these eventful years. I could not have carried
out my mission without your strong backing and, in particular,
without your support for my maintaining contact - as the only peace
Envoy permanently on the ground - with all parties concerned,
including as appropriate with non-state actors, such as Hamas.
Goal-oriented contact with such interlocutors is an essential element
for any Envoy seeldng peace in a complex, modem conflict.

Finally,
to my successor, Nickolay Mladenov, I wish every success in dealing
with this infinitely challenging environment.